CDS Launches Abuja Military Barracks Youth Championship, Targets Unity, Discipline Through Sports

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, on Tuesday declared the 2026 Abuja Military Barracks Youth Sports Championship open, charging participants to embrace discipline, teamwork and excellence as they compete for honours over the next five days.

Represented by the Chief of Defence Civil-Military Affairs, Rear Admiral S.A. Lawal, the CDS described the championship as a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening unity, fostering friendship and promoting healthy competition among youths from military barracks across the Federal Capital Territory.

Declaring the games open at the Aguiyi Ironsi Sports Complex in Asokoro, Abuja, Oluyede said the tournament was about much more than winning medals, stressing that it provides a platform for character building, personal development and the discovery of sporting talent.

“I am delighted to see such a gathering of talented individuals from various barracks, all united by a shared passion for sports,” he said.

“This competition is not just about winning or losing. It is about the journey, the camaraderie and the spirit of healthy competition. It is about pushing oneself to new heights, overcoming challenges and striving for excellence.”

The CDS expressed confidence that the athletes would display outstanding skill, teamwork and sportsmanship, urging them to compete fairly, support one another and make the most of the opportunity.

He also praised the organisers, coaches, trainers, mentors and officials for their commitment to staging the championship, noting that sport remains a powerful vehicle for learning, inspiration and social transformation.

Oluyede expressed optimism that the competition would strengthen relationships among barracks youths and inspire more young Nigerians to pursue sport as both a career and a tool for personal growth.

Earlier, the Chief of Defence Administration, Rear Admiral Gideon Kashim, said the championship underscores the Defence Headquarters’ renewed commitment to youth development and the revival of sports within the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

He disclosed that the CDS had made significant investments in grassroots sports through the sponsorship of athletes and clubs, as well as capacity-building programmes for sportsmen and women across military barracks.

“The Chief of Defence Staff has invested a lot in reactivating sporting activities by sponsoring players, clubs and capacity building among sportsmen and women in the barracks,” Kashim said.

According to him, the initiative is designed to channel youthful energy into productive ventures, helping to curb restiveness and other social vices while promoting discipline, teamwork and a strong sense of purpose.

Kashim also announced that retired senior military officers with distinguished sporting careers had been invited for the first time to serve as mentors, observers and talent scouts during the championship.

Retired Air Vice Marshal A.I. Amodu will mentor volleyball, while retired Brigadier General A. Yellow Duke and retired Commodore C.O. Imoh will oversee basketball and football respectively.

The 2026 CDS Abuja Military Barracks Youth Sports Championship has brought together athletes from military barracks across the Federal Capital Territory to compete in football, basketball, volleyball and other sporting events, with organisers aiming to strengthen camaraderie and identify future sporting talents within the Armed Forces.